1 feared dead, others injured in A’Ibom communal clash

AT least one person was feared killed and several others injured recently as hoodlums unleashed violence in Nnung Oku Ekanem community in Onna Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State.

It was learnt that crisis followed the arrest of two suspected cassava thieves who were said to have migrated from the neighbouring village of Afaha Ubium into Nnung Oku Ekanem to steal cassava tubers in farms belonging to one Evans Akpan Evans.

The thieves, it was gathered, were apprehended in the act in the early hours of Tuesday and taken before the village council of Afaha Ubium before they were handed over to the Police for further investigation.

An eye witness, Effiong Sunday, recalled: “The duo were brought to the residence of the village head, Etteidung Ntiense Nda, but had to direct the village council secretary, Chief Esekong Eshiet, to handle the matter in his absence. He called the Police and handed over the case”.

He explained that the angry youths from the Afaha Ubium village, having got wind of the arrest, ambushed and attacked the three policemen in a bid to free the suspects.

“After freeing the suspects, they turned their anger on the Nnung Oku Ekanem community and destroyed houses and  properties killing one and injuring several others”, he said.

The police reinforcement,  it was learnt, was met with stiff resistance from over 200 youths of Afaha Ubium, most of whom were masked.

“The Afaha Ubium youths were carrying the dead body of their colleague to the palace of the village head of Nnung Oku Ekanem, when they met the policemen who had reinforced to quell the crisis”.

In another development, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, has confirmed that a policeman in the Command has been detained for shooting to dead a 22-year-old orphan over a minor argument.

Tension persisted as residents of Use Offot community vent their anger over the gruesome murder of Ndifreke Effiong Ukpong, who before his death, worked as a brick moulder, following the demise of his parents years back.

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The deceased, according to one of his colleagues, was shot dead by the policeman over a minor argument at a restaurant near the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) main campus at Nwaniba, on the outskirts of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

It was gathered that an angry mob  launched an attack on the policemen thereby, destroying a police van.

Confirming the incident at the weekend, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko Macdon, said it was unfortunate, wondering why the hoodlums resorted to use of arms.

“We are aware of the incident but what we don’t know, for now, is why they should resort to use gun”, he said, adding that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. John Abang, had ordered the immediate detention of the policeman at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), at the Ikot Akpanabia Police headquarters.

“The CP has given order for his detention at the State CID, as well as full investigation to ascertain why such action should be taken against a civilian.

“We are yet to get full report on the incident and the real identity of the deceased and immediately we have all the details, we will let the world know”, the PPRO said.